Validity of the Pedusa PE-771 pedometer
Paul D. Loprinzi, James Vardeman
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the accuracy of a new, commercially developed pedometer, Pedusa PE-771. 13 participants completed various ambulatory-based activity trials while wearing up to six pedometers, with observed steps assessed using a tally counter. The four main experiments included (1) participants wearing the pedometers during a 20 step-test, (2) an assessment of walking speed accuracy of the pedometer, (3) and an assessment of the accuracy of the pedometer over different surfaces (e.g., grass, concrete), and (4) an assessment of the pedometer’s proprietary energy expenditure algorithm. During these trials, pedometers were worn on the waist, in shorts with snug pockets, and in shorts with loose pockets. For the 20 step-test, and across all conditions (i.e., pedometers worn on the belt, in snug pocket and loose pocket), each pedometer demonstrated acceptable classification accuracy, with an error rate range being 0.01-4.5%. When the pedometers were worn on the belt, the accuracy of each pedometer was exact at speeds greater than or equal to 3 mph. However, at 2 and 2.5 mph, there was some degree of under-and over-estimation. These findings were identical to when the pedometers were worn in snug or loose pockets. The Pedusa PE-771 pedometer demonstrated accuracy (i.e., 1% error rate)when placed in snug pockets during outdoor self-selected walking speed over concrete, which was not the case when the pedometer was worn in loose pockets. Lastly, the Pedusa PE-771 pedometer overestimated and underestimated energy expenditure, respectively, during walking and jogging.